Aerial fire extinguisher



P 7, 1953 L. E. CARLSON AERIAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed Nov. 29, 1951 1 NV ENTOR Lawrence 1621, r150 72 ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 7, 1953 AERIAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER Lawrence Carlson, Huntington, Ind., assignor to Howard 1 Mich.

Stephen Carlson; West Branch,

- g 1 p L This invention relates to a fire extinguisher bomb.

An object of this invention is to provide a fire extinguisher bomb which is adapted'to be dropped from an airplane or other aircraft for putting out forest or other fires in relatively inaccessible places.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fire extinguisher bomb which is so; constructed as to provide for a relatively wide broadcast of theliquid when the bomb strikes the ground.

A further object of this invention is, to pros claiinsl j (01. 169-33) outer shell. The inner shell l2-includes a bot tom wall la-which is formed with anofiset proved means ior filling the device with the fire extinguishing liquid. I

1 A further object of this invention is to pro vide an improved aerial bomb which includes means for maintaining the-bomb vertical when the bomb-is dropped," and for holding the same in a substantially upright position when the bomb strikes the ground. a l l 6 A further object of the inventionis to provide means whereby the course of the bomb in flight toward the target area may be observed for guidance and greateraccuracy.

= With the above and other-objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement combination and details of constructiondisclosed in the drawing and specification, and then more particularly pointed outin the appended claims.

Inthe drawing:

Figure 1 is a detailed side elevation of an aerial bomb fire extinguisher constructed ac cording to an embodiment of this invention showing the bomb in operative or storing position. l 4

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken substan-- tially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 showingthe bomb in fiight. l i 6 Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken ,on the line 3--3 of Figure 2.

'Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2. g l V Referring. to the drawing, the numeral I0 designates generally a cylindrical outer casing or shell which is formed at its lower end with a frustro-conical point H. The casing I0 is formed of material which will readily shatter or break up when the device is dropped on the ground from a substantial height and. may be formed'out of either glass, brittle plastic or other suitable material. An inner cylindrical shell 12 is disposed within the outer shell l6 and is substantially shorterin length than the opening [4 normally closed by means of a flap valve l5 which opens upwardly. The inner casing I2, including the bottom wall 13 and a top wall I6, is formed of relatively strong material, such as metal or the like, and is sufficiently strong so as to substantially retain its configuration after the bomb has contact with the ground. The lower end of the frusto-conical point H is normally closed by means of a discshaped plate l1, and a tubular member 16 is fixed relatively to the. plate I1 and extends therebelow.

A conical cap I9 is threaded onto the tubular member 18 and engages partly about the plate or bottom wall IT. The wall I1 is formed with a threaded opening 20 within which a plug 2i is adapted to be disposed when the fire extinguishing liquid is contained within. the bomb.

The pipe It extends loosely through an opening 22 formed in the bottom wall 13, and has fixed thereto a plunger member 23which is initially disposed in contact with the bottom wall l3. Plunger 23 is formed with an opening 2E adapted to register with the opening l4 and flap valve I5 is carried by the inner side of plunger 23. The top wall Hi is formed with a relatively large valve seat 25 and a conical member 26 is adapted-to initially engage on the seat 25. The conical-member 26 comprises a diffuser and is fixed to the upper end of tubular member l8. A -guide2l is disposed within the inner housing or shell l2 closely adjacent the upper end thereof for guiding the tubular member l8 as the inner shell l2 moves downwardly on the tubular member the ground.

The tubular member i8 is formed with an opening 28 below the bottom wall is for communicating the interior thereof with the lower chamber at whichis formed within the outer shell l0 below the shell 12. The tubular member. i8 is also formed with a second opening 29 communicating the interior of tubular member I8 with the chamber 3| disposed within the. inner shell 12. The openings 28 and 29'provide a means whereby the fire extinguishing liquid maybe dischar ed into the chambers 30 and 3! by removing the conical cap lflpfrom the. lower end of tubular member 18 and connecting the threaded lower end of. tubular member 18 witha source of fire extinguishing liquid supply. When the chambers are being filled with the liquid, plug 2| is removed from the wall or plate I! so that the chambers 30 and 3! may be exhausted as these chambers are being filled. The conical plug and diffuser 26 is sealed relatively to the upper end wall l6 and the seat 25 by means of thin frangible sheet 32 which is fixed to the upper wall 16. Cylindrical vane .33 is secured to a pair l8 after the bomb "strikes bottom wall 53 of the inner of elongated barsxddwhich are :formed:withelongated slots= 35. The bars 34 overlap the outer shell or casing l0, and headed guide pins 36 ex- 7 tend through the slots 35 and provide for holding the guide vane 33 coaxial with the main body of the bomb.

A frangible screen 31 is fixed-in the outer end of the vane 33 and includes a cylindrical side wall 31. A pair of flexible guiding tails 38 are fixed to the upper ends of the bars34 by means of rings 39. The flexible tail members 38 are initially held within the cylindrical sidewall 31 by means of an inverted U-shaped handle 40 which: carries; pins: Mi removably' n a openings.- 42: formed in the: vane 33.

The handlell'll may; beremovedfrom the vane 33 by pressing; the vane inwardly adj acent one of the pins? 41' until the? vane; is: distorted sufficiently to releasethe pin, M from; the opening 42-; The. handle 49-: not' only. provides: a; means for holding the-flexible tailmembers, 38.: in, the outerend of the. vane "33;. butalso; provides a means. whereby the vane 33, maybe pulledoutwardly.- toits extended 1 guiding. p sition; which. is the position: shown iniFigure- 2-;

In the use ofithis extinguisher, thebombs may be stored in empty condition, and, when the bombs are. stored, the; vane 332 will be disposed inoperative. position abutting against the-upper'endx of: the bomb body, as shownin'Figu-re 1; When it is desireditofill: the bomb; it isinverted, the can I9; is removed: fromthe plunger rod or tubular:- member l8',. and. a; supply hose is connected with. the" threaded lower end of tubular member I 8; As: the-liquid flows through thertubel8; and out. of opening 2o:- into! chamberv 3i; flap valve 24' drops openito-permit the escape of. air; When chamber 3| is' filled withliquid, valve 2&- closes,.and'the' liquid then flowsinto chamber 3.2!;- through opening 28 in tube i3 until chamber 3%!- is filledthe. air escaping through opening 29: in blockrplate ll. Screw,- plugZ-listhen re-i-nserted. in opening 20 and; conical cap-l9 replaced. When it, isdesired to drop; the-bomb,-. vane 33 is pulled outwardly: to i theposition shown in Figure. 2; 'and'handle-do is removed from vane'33. When the bomb: is dropped fromxa substantial height, the-:airr passing between the upper end of they bombandthe guiding vane-331M1 1 tendto guide the bombin a vertical dropand the air striking the wire screen will cause the flexible tails Eliirto move upwardlyto their operative position extendingifrom'the slide'bars. 34.. As soon as the bomb strikes the ground or an object, the outer shell II); which is. highly frangible, willbreak thereby scattering the fire extinguishing liq.uidimmedi ately' within the area where the bomb fell. When the shell lo below theinner shell [21 breaks, the lower end? of plunger rod i8;wi-ll be forced-into the-ground to the. depthpermitted by the plate L1. The downward force of theifalling of the bomb, including the striking of. theground, will causev inner shell [2 to move downwardly along the plunger rod I8, and. at this time the thin sealing member 32 will be broken by the. conical diffuser 28'.- As shell i2: moves downwardly; plunger rod l8 and conical diffuser 2&6: break through frangible screen 31, and simultaneously the liquid in chamber 31 willsbe. forcibly discharged upwardly. through opening 25v and at. the same time this liquid will strike diffuser 2.6 so that the liquid will'bedispersed or. broadcast upwardly and outwardly within a relatively wide area.

I" do not'mean' to confine myselftdtheexact' detailszof construction herein disclosed, but claim all" variationsfalling within thepurview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1'. An. aerial fire extinguisher bomb comprising an outer cylindrical body formed of frangible material; aconicalrpoint at the lower end of said body, an inner non-frangible body in said outer body, said inner body dividing said outer body intoan upper anda lower chamber, a tubular plunger rod disposed axially of said bodies, a plunger fixed to said rod and disposed in said upper chamber, said inner body including an uppenend: wall formed; with: a. central opening, a conical diffuser fixed to the upper end oisaid rod? andinorma'lly closingsaidopening, a frangible seal; fixed to the outer side of, said: upper end and engaging: over said diffuser, a. cylindrical guide'vaneat the upper end-of; said outer body, a pair of slide bars fixed to said vane-and extending over'saidg outer body, said, bars having elongated slots, guide pins carried by said outerbody. engaging through saidslots, and-.a pair of flexible taihmem-berssecuredto said vane.

2: An aerialifire extinguisher bomb comprising an. outer: cylindrical body formed of frangible materiaLa removable conical: point at the lower endof said body; anpinner non-frangible, body in said outer body,.said inner body dividing; saidouter bodyintoan upper-and a. lower chambena tubular plunger: rod disposed axially of said bodies, a plunger fixed to said rod and disposed irr-saidupper; chamber, said inner body including anupper end wall formed with a central opening, aconical diffuser fixedto the'upper; end of said rod and normally closing said opening, afrangi-ble sealfixed'tothe outer'side of saidupper end and. engagin over said diifuser, a; cylindrical guide vane at the upper end of said outer body, a pair of slidebars fixed to said vane and extending over; said; outer body, said bars having elongated slots, guide pins; carried by said outer body engaging; through said slots, a U-shaped handle, and means detachably securing said handle to said vane.

3. An aerial fireextinguisher bomb andmeans for; filling same: comprising; an outer cylindrical body formed of. frangible material, a removable conical-point-atthe. lower endof said body, an inner non-frangible body in said outer body; said innerbody. dividing said-outer body into an upper and a lower chamber, an end-threaded tubular plunger rod with openings disposed axially of said bodies, a. block. plate fixed to said rod and disposednear thealower extremity thereof, a plunger fixed to said rod and disposed in said upper chamber, said inner body including an upper end wall formed with" a centralv opening, a conical diffuser fixedto theupper endof said rod and normally closing said opening, a frangible seal fixed tothe outerside' of, saidupper end and engaging over said dilluser, a cylindricalguide vane atlthe uppen endof said outer body, a pair of slide bars fixed to said vane and extending over saidouter body,, saidbars having-elongated slo,ts,,guide pins carried'by. said outer body engaging through said. slots, a cup-shaped frangible screen carried, by said vane and forming a receptacle for said tails whenthelatter are inoperative, and a U-shaped handle removably secured to. said vane and extending. over said; screen for retaining. said tails therein.

LAWRENCE E. CARLSON;

No references cited; 

